Machine by which the centrifugal force is controlled in throwing balls and other bodies



- UNITED *STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MARIIN, on LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

MACHINE BY WHICH THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE IS CONTROLLEDIN THROWING BALLS AND OTHER BODIES.

Sppecication forming parti of Letters Patent No. 1,713, dated August 43, 1840.

following is a full, clear, and exact description ot the construction and operation ot' the same, and offthe various modes in which I contemplate the application ot' the principle, reference being had to the annexed drawings, A and B,

making a part ot this specification, in which- Figure 1, Drawing A, is a perspective view of the engine E on a frame; Fig. 2, a perspective view ot' the front of the same with apart of the frame; Fig. 3, the engine detached, shown in perspective; Fig, 4, the saine with the front plate removed; Fig. 5, a perspective back view ofthe engine without the plates and lever; Fig. 6, a double endless chain in perspective; Fig. 7, a similar view of part of a large chain; Fig. 8,'a diagram of the wheelwork and chains; Fig. 9, a side view of the engine in a vertical position without the side plates; Fig. 10, a perspective view of oneend of the engine inclosed; Figull, abroad link with a receiving-plate and spring; Fig. 12, a vertical section or diagram of a wheel for receiving and directing shot.

In drawing B, Fig. l is a perspective view ofone form ot' the engine E in connection with a water-wheel and other machinery; Fig.'2, a perspective view of` the wheel-workv enlarged and the back plate; Fig, 3, a' front view, in

perspective, of the engine enlarged and de .tached.; Fig. 4, a similar view ot' one end of the engine inclosed; Fig. 5, a vertical section of a part of' the same and a power-wheel; Fig.

6, a plan of the cam, rods, and joints thatwork 4the valves; Fig. 7 ,v a permanent fixture for the eenter wheel; Fig. 8, the elevating-lever detachedfrom the engine; Fig. 9,` a view of an arrangement of endless chains and buckets on a la lrge scale; Fig. l0,'form ofthe broad links aiidflbuckets; .Fig.'1`1, a section of a power- Wlteelsa.

eudvof the main shaft S, Fig..2, Drawing B, by means of a thick flange or plate, which is either cast with it or riveted to the L, as shown in the drawings. Through these the squvare end of the shaft is made to tit with accuracyaud fastened on the inside bya strong pin and screw-nut., tlange or plate-maybe dispen-sedwith; but for .all heavy engines the main shaft mustbe cast withfa broad and strong flange of sucien't L, madeof wrought-iron, is to be firmly riv- \eted'or secured by screw-bolts and pins, the

on the frame and for the center wheel being previously turned. The center wheel in such cases must be cast in two parts, either by itself, with a flange for securing it-to the frame by screw-bolts, as is shown in Fig. 7, Drawing B, or,-when heavy shot are tobe projected, each halt' of the center wheel, O, is to be cast with a'half of wheel R, Fig. 10, Drawing A, divided through the centers of two opposite to be firmly fastened together by rivets after being fitted to the turned part-ofthe shaft. In all cases the main shaft must be very stron g,

part for the bearing in the plumber-block and for the center wheel, O, Fig. 2, Drawing B, must be turned before itis squared to fit through the back plate, L, In very heavy engines in which water is used lthe shaftpasses through the center opening, C, Fig. 3, Drawing A, and terminates in a gud'geon or,v bearing In every instance an engine may he attachednto each end of the main shaft and placed at right angles to eachother. When one onlyis used the other end of the shaft mustbe supplied with a flywheel. Y

The front plate, K, in small engines'may be 2 and 3, Drawing A, or of several piecesfas in Fig. '1, Drawing'B. lt is secured by screw bolts passing through the back plate, K, and the side plates, P P, Fig. 4, Drawing A, or by P P, Drawing B, Fig. 3, which are designedto receive screw-nuts.

Having given a general view of my invention and described the-manner in which the frame-work ot' the engin-e is put together and back plate,

ln smaller engines the length,t0 which the back plate or framework,

bearing or round part for the plumber-hlock spokes, and the halves of the t'wo wheels areand when the llangeis not cast with it the round of wood or iron, in one piece, as seen in Figs.

the projections on the edges et the side plates;

secured to the main shaft, I will now give a full and exact description ot' the machine or engine in its various forms, and then point out separately and in combination the parts which I claim as my discovery or invention.

.In Fig. 1, Drawing A', the boXingD D `D is designed only as a protection to engineers and others while the engine is in operation. H is a hopper or reservoir, and G is a part of the supply-tube seen in Fig. 2. The frame J J J J, which sustains the engine E, with the accompanying wheels, bands, and winch, rests upon a horizontal frame, R -R R, designed to s'how that by an ordinary arrangement ot' a center spindle the engine can be easily turned to any point. O is the center eog\vheel, which in this drawing is of the samcsize with the wheels N N. lt has a. round opening at its center, through which the main shaft works. It has also, in this form of engine, asquarev projection surrounding the opening, as seen in Fig. 5. 'The lever l, with a forked end, h, lits upon that square projection, and by means Aof the opening s and thumb-screw t it can move the wheel 0 upon the shaft while the engine is in motion and be secured at any point of the segment s. In Fig. 2, Drawing A, the supplytnbe G G is shown, terminating in the openingCof the engine, and having avalve or slide, a, moved by the lever b, for 'regulating the supply of shot or water. v

Fig. 3 shows the engine as a gun detached from the shaft and frame. In Fig. 4 the front plate, K, is removed to show the interior of the engine. T T T T are the endless chains, with their'receivingplates M M M M M M; P P, the. side plates, and W W W W the guideplates. The guide-plates are to be made of iron, and should be very smooth when the engine is to be used asa gun, and must be curved at their inner ends, so as to be closely adapted to the edge of the center opening of the front plate. Their outer ends may be straight, or they may be curved, as seen' in the drawing. They may be used with or without the side plates, as circumstances may require, their thickness and breadth depending-upon the size of the balls and the number to be thrown at each half-revolution of the engine.

To prevent the enginefrom receiving a shock when the receiving-plates strike large shot as they move from the center, a portion of each guide-plate is made to act as a spring from the points g g, Fig. 4, Drawing A, or a part of the plate works on a hinge with a spiral or some other spring on the outside. The springs must be elastic and move with but little pressure. When the side plates, P P, as in Fig. 4, are of wood, a portion of each is removed to give room for the plate and spring.

The chain' or knob wheels d d r r, Fig. 4, are made solid, of wood, with iron gudgeons and knobs, or are cast hollow, of iron. They have a double set of knobs and carry the broad endless chains T T T T. They work in the front plate, K, Fig. 3, upon the short gudgeons ff ff. At their bearings through the plate L it is made stationary and the engine is in mo? tion,`their teethacting upon those of O.-

The endless chains, Figs. 4 and 5, are made ot' common sheet-iron or of boiler-iron, and must be well riveted and have strong bolts to form the hinges or joints. The links must be made'of such a size' or length and number, in proportion to the relative sizes of the knob or chain wheels and the cog wheels and the length of -the engine, that when all are properly adjusted a particular link will' turn up from one or the other end of the engine at every revolution of the engine. In the drawings the relative proportions of the parte men tioned above are such that everyA til'th link of the fifteen in each chain will. be brought to any desired point atevery revolution of the engine, the center wheel, O, being fixed by the lever l, or bysome other means. A plate or bucket for receiving shot or water is therefore rlveted to every fifth link.

i When a receiving-plate is used, as represented in Drawing A, for receiving shot, it is placed upon a'hing'eat a greater or less angle with the link, to prevent a shockto the engine when it strikes large shot as they pass through the gun. It is retained in its position by a slight spring, as maybe seen by inspecting Fig. 1l,

in which T is a diagram ot a link with a receiving-plate, M, R being a section of it at the dotted line b, showing the link T and plate M,

and S a section at the dotted line a, showing the lilik T, plate M, and spring i. In Figs. 4,5, and 8, M M M and M M M are the receiving# plates on the endless chains. f

.It the. engine be rapidly revolved by the winch U, Fig. 1, or any other means, and shot or some other heavy body be introdncedat `thecenter, their centrifugal force will impel them from the center along the guide-plates to the extrevmites,'from which they will be projected in the direction of the tangent from every point of the circle in which the engine revolves, if the center wheel, O, be permitted to move round with the main shaft. If, however, the center wheel be made stationaryI by the lever l, Fig. 1, and the endless chains, knob-wheels, and cog-wheels be properly adjusted, the plates M MM will receive the shot near the center, and retain them until the Yen-y gine passes at or near the vertical point, as may be desired, and if they be regularly introduced one or more will be projected at each half-revolution of the engine.

The double'endless chain represented in i 6 is designed to receive large single shot between the chains, and control them by the bars. bbb, which are so arranged in the drawing as to discharge as the plates M M M do. This kind of chain can be made of any required strength by riveting thev best hammered iron, as shown in the drawings, the spaces between the middie links receiving the knobs of the double knob or chain wheels (I and r. The length of the links and theirnumber will depend upon the length of-eugine, the size of the knobwheels, and the proportion between the wheels N N and the center wheel, 0. In using this chain it is necessary to have grooves in the plates L and K for it to work in to prevent the bars from being forced from the center of the gun by the balls. The barsv may be made dat or square, or may be round with rollers upon them. When the chain is large enough to admit ot' it plates are to be used working upon pivots or gudgeons at their inner edges, the gudgeons passing through the links of the chain. Each plate is held to its place by a slight spring. When a large shot, in passing through the gun, strikes the edge of one 'of those plates, the plate moves upon its gudgeons as a hinge, and either permits the shot to pass or recovers its position by the elasticity of the spring and receives it. Th efurther to prevent a concussion when-the plates or bars of this chain strike the shot, the springs seen at S S in the guide-plates, Fig. 4, are also used. This form ofchain is used for sin gle balls of al1 sizes,

from a ride-ball to the heaviest cannon-shot,A the size and length ofthe links, the length of the chains, the number of plates or bars, and the relative proportions ot' the chain-wheels and cog-wheels being determined by circu1nstances.

For projecting large shot the strongest machinery, made of the best n ronght-iron, will be necessary. Fig. 7, Drawing A, is a representationin perspective of links of thelargest kind of endless chain designed for that purpose.

The plate b is not drawn with the gudgeons, because they would have confused the figure.

Wate'r,sh0t, or other bodies projected by the engine are elevated or depressed by turning the' center wheel, O, upon the main shaft in the following manner Vhen the wheel O, Fig. 5, Drawing A, is turned upon the main shaft, it acts upon the wheels N N, and the chain-wheels to which they are attached, and either moves the endless chains T T andreceivin g-plates M M M, with the shot, outward, and consequently discharges them from each plate before the end of the gun passes the vertical point, which would cause them to be elevated, or retains them by moving the plates toward the center, to be projected horizont-,all y or still farther depressed. The center wheel is moved on the main shaft or secured at pleasure by lever] and its thumbscrew t, Fig. l, Drawing A, or by the wheel R and its winch and catch Y and U, Fig. l0. The lever l has already been described.

The cog-wheel R, Fig. 10, is cast with the wheel O, either in connection with the cam Q or without it, as may be required. Itis operated upon by the pinion and winch W and Y, and is retained in any desired position by means of the ratchet-wheel t and catch U, the catch being held in its placeby a sprin g. As'the wheels O and R' move together, the winch Y, acting upon R by the pinion W, controls the cogwheels N N, Fig. 5, the knob nr chain wheels d d, and the endless chains with their plates, and consequently will cause shot to be discharged at any required point. of the circle in which the engine may revolve. In large engines the requisite number ofrevolutionsin a minute is given before securingtlie\vlieels O and R, which then move round with the main shaft and turnV the pinion W full upon its axle, the catch being first raised. When sutiicient velocity is obtained the pinion is to be coupled with its axle and the wheels lt and O turned by the winch until the plates will discharge from the desired point. The ca'tch of the ratchet is then let down and shot may bevintroduced. Before the engine is revolved the plates and chains and the wheels N N O are to be so arranged that a. mark or projecting index on the wheel R will indicate from what point the plates will discharge the shot. This can always be done it' care be taken to have as many teeth in cach of `the wheels N N ns the center' wheel has, or two, three, four, tive, or six times as many, accordingto circumstances. 'lhe index may exten l to the height of the circle in which the engineis moving or revolving and carry on its end a plate. at. right angles t-o it, along which sight may be taken. ln double engines one of them may be thrown out ofgear and the other only used. Any competent machinist will understand how to adapt thecommon coupling-block to the pinion andl its axle and to arrange the index. They are left out. of the ligure to avoid confusion.

The other parts of Fig. l0 are. designed to show the operation ot the dischargiiig-valve V, worked by the segments Z and a, and the lever X X, operated upon by thel cam Q, which is to be attached to thecenter wheel and moved with it by lneans of the wheel lt or the lcvi-r l.

This valve,with its accompanying machinery, is only to be used in very long engines, in which the revolutions per minute are few in proportion to the centrifugal velocity. ltr is opened at themomentrequired by the centrifugal pressure ot' the shot discharged upon it by the plates. f j

The operation of the centrifugal principle as a moving-power by meansof the machinery described above is explained in the following manner: lf the engine be revolved rapidly with all thewheels, chains, and plates or buckets properly arranged, (the center wheel being iixed,) and a constant supply of common shot be introduced at the center opening, c, Fig. 4, Drawing A, they will be .inpelled against the plates M M M of the chains T T, Figs. 4 and 5, at both ends of the engine at once, and will cause the cog-wheels N N to act upon the teeth of the center wheel, 0, and the axlesffot the chain-wheels d d, on the principle of a lever of the second kind, the teeth ofthe center wheel being the fulcrum, the resistance at the bearjecting central power-wheel, with receiving- .which they are attached to the rim of the wheel,

ings of the axles ff uponthe back plate, L, the weight, and the centrifugal force of the shot upon the plate the power, and the amount of centrifugal force will be in proportion to the length ot' the engine, lthe number of' its revolutions in a minute, the. size ofthe chain-wheels, the relative proportions ofthe wheelsN N and the center wheel, and the whole weight ot' shot or other substance that may pass through the exigirle in a minute.

Fig. 1:3, Drawing A, is a diagram of a pro plates and springs, and a guide-plate, W WV, designed for projecting shot ot'all sizes. There is one ateach end ofthe engine., and they carry upon their axlesthe large tooth-wheels N N, Fig. 2, Drawing which arelonr limes larger than the center wheel, 0, a ball heing discharged at ever) haltrevolurion ot' the engine and at the fourth ot' a revolution of' each wheel upon its axle. The number ot' receiving-plates will always be determined by the relative proportions ot' the wheels N N andthe center wheel. They aremade of wrought-iron, with holes through lhem at their angles for bolts, by

and upon which they move as upon hinges, flanges being cast with or riveted to the sides ot' the rim for that purpose. Each plate is preserved in a position for receiving balls by a slight spring pressing upon each edge, so as not to interfere with the balls. This is the most.- simple and cheapest form of projectingengine, and is best calculated to transmit the centrifugal force of the shot, the leverage of that force upon the wheels N N and of those wheels upon the back plate, L, being greatly increased. It can be adapted to balls ot' all sizes, from a small pistol-ball with an engine twelveinches long to sixty-tbur-poululers with a nine-foot gun. Itis the best form, also, for increasing the width of the gnu for the purpose of dischai ging two or more shot at a timet'rom each receiving-plate.

In Fig. l, Drawing B, the engine E is represented in connection with a common undershot, water-wheel, the force with which the water is projected being made to react upon the engine by means ot the tooth-wheels W. and F, and the water returning from the reservoir H through the supply-tube G into the engine, to be again employed. An overshot wheel, with a suitablearrangement of wheelwork, may be used in a similar manner, and small shot or otherheavy bodies projected. 1n this torm` of engine, when large, the center wheel, O, Fig. 2. is cast without the projection for the lever l to act upon but it has a triangnlarproiection on each side ofthe centeropening, with depressions for receiving two bars of a coupling block connected with lever No. l, Fig. 1, by means of which it is coupled after suicient velocity has been given to the engine by the winch U and wheel V, or by some other means. Immediately after the center wheel is coupled water is admitted into the engine by one has its front board removed to show the drum z 'i i and buckets M M M M. The size of those wheels depends upon the size of the cngine and the purposes for which it may be designed. They carry upon their axles the wheels N N, Fig. 2, which may be larger orsmallerin proportion than the wheel O, as circumstances may require. In the drawings they are four times larger. lhe power-wheels may be made entirely ot' wood, and in ordinary cases they are preferable, the gudgeons only being of iron. They may be cast entire ot' iron, or the drum may be cast and buckets made of sheet ior boiler ironl riveted to it. The form of the buckets may vary with the size and design of the engine. In Fig. 3 the form is well calculated to show the action ofthe water upon the buckets and the leverage of the wheel; but the form in the section of a wheel, Fig. 1l, is better cal culated to receive and discharge the water. This kind of wheel isdesigned to be used where there is anatural supply ot' water. When the water is to be returned into the engine to be again used the number of buckets will depend upon the proportion between the wheels N N and the center wheel, as in Fig. 3.

The power-wheels are boxed up with side boards, and work clear ot' all the plates without any friction except at their axles. Their breadth will depend on the size and nature of the engine. In the drawings, au eleven-foot machine has a two and a haltl foot bucket. The waterwheel D is only to be` used in very large engines, with very little velocity compared with that ot'small ones, in which the number of revolutions in aminute may be increased with great advantage. Where there is a supply of water with but little fall, I use a. large horizontal en-v gine made in every'particular like the one described above, wtth wheels and bucketssimlar to those of which a section is given in Fig. 11. Where there is anatural supply of water small in amount, but with considerable fall, the endless-chains and buckets with a long engine are preferable. Fig. 9 is a diagram of the interior ot an engine of a form well adapted to such a natural supply of water, and also to the use ot' common small shot in the place of water. The ends of the chain-wells d r d r and of the buck- Vets M M M, 86e., and the edges of the chains T T and the guide-plates WW W W are plainly shown. They are all so proportioned and arranged as to operate with the wheels N N O, Fig. 2, and discharge from a bucket at or near the top at each halt-revolution of the engine. In the forms of engines represented in Figs. 2, 8, and 9 the centrifugal force of the heavy body employed acts upon the center wheel and back sans 5 I same winch or crank is made' to act upon the two center wheels at the same time, for thepurpose of directing the shot, by placing the pinion W, Fig. 10, Drawing A, ofcach engine in a line with that of the other, and bending their shafts at right angles nearthe center ofl the frame, so as 'to form a crank and as one ratchet-wheel and catch will be sufficient for both pinions, the shot from both engines may be elevated or depressed by one individual,

. and by dispensing with the catch in small engines vhe can propel them with one hand and elevate or depress the shot with the other.

I l have in this specification described methods by which my engine may be employed to propel machinery by projecting water or other bodieson common bucket-wheels, for which I do not claim a patent.

I do not claim as my invention the throwin g of balls or other bodies by centrifugal force, as that has previously been done; but

Whatl do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The method herein described of controA ling the eentrntngal force of balls and other `bodies by means of the combined operation of the chain-wheels d r d r, Fig. 4, Drawing A, the endless chains v'il TT T, withtheir receiving-plates, the tooth-wheels N N, Fig.5, Drawing A, the center wheel. 0,'Figs. l, 5, and-10, Drawing A, the plate L and shaft S, Fig. 2, 4Drawing B. (The above claim includes the various modifications of the same principle which have been described in this specification, or any other substantially the same in principle.) L

2. The application of the spring-plates S S,

Fig. 4, Drawing A, in combination with the receiving-plates M M M, Figs. 5,11, and 12, Drawing A, and the guide-plates W W W W, Fig. 4, Drawing A, for receiving shot and regulating their discharge, as described above, and

the modifications of the same described in this,

specification.

3. The method-described above ot regulating the point for the discharge of a ball or other body to be projected by changing the position of the receiving plates or hars relatively to the position of the outer terminations of the guide-plates, for ei'ecting which eitln-r of the combinations of machinery actingnpoh the center wheel, as y shown in Figs. 1 and l0, Drawing A, may be used, or any modification of the same which may be substantially the same in principle.

4. The discharging-valves V V, Fig. 10, Drawing A, and Figs. 4 and 6, Drawing B, in combination with the cams Q Q and the rods or levers X X.

JOSEPH MARTIN.

Witnesses:

B. K. MoRsELL, R. R. BURR. 

